U.S. Forces assist UK seizure of missiles shipped from Iran

ByNAVCENTPublicAffairs

U.S.NavalForcesCentralCommand/ U.S.5thFleet

MANAMA, Bahrain U.S. forces providedairborneintelligence,surveillance andreconnaissancesupportforaninterdiction in the Gulf of Oman conducted by the United Kingdom Royal Navy, Feb. 23, that resultedinthediscoveryofanillegalweaponsshipmentfromIran

Coordinated efforts among U.S. and UK maritime forces led to Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster (F229) confiscating antitank guided missiles and missile componentsfromasmallboatthatoriginatedfrom

Iran. UK forces discovered packages that includedIranianversionsofRussian9M133 Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, known in Iran as “Dehlavieh, and medium-range ballisticmissilecomponents

“This is the seventh illegal weapon or drug interdiction in the last three months andyetanotherexampleofIran’sincreasing malignmaritimeactivityacrosstheregion,” saidViceAdm.BradCooper,commanderof U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces “We will continue to work with our partners in pursuing any destabilizing activity that threatens regional maritime security andstability.”

The interdiction occurred along a route historically used to traffic weapons unlawfullytoYemen.Thedirectorindirectsupply saleortransferofweaponstotheHouthisin YemenviolatesU.N.SecurityCouncilResolution2216andinternationallaw.

U.S.andUKnavalforcesregularlyconduct combined maritime security operations to disrupt the flow of illicit cargo in Middle Eastwaters Lastyear,U.S.Navyguided-missiledestroyerUSSGridley(DDG101),Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose (F236) and combinedairassetsledtoRoyalNavyforces seizing surface-to-air missiles and land-attackcruise-missileengines

In the past three months, seven major interdictionshaveresultedinU.S.andpartnermaritimeforcesseizingmorethan5,000 weapons 1.6millionroundsofammunition, 7,000proximityfusesforrockets,2,100kilograms of propellant used to launch rocket propelled grenades, 30 anti-tank guided missiles, medium-range ballistic missile components and $80 million worth of illegaldrugs.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and United Kingdom Maritime Component Command are headquartered in Manama, Bahrain.

Hershel “Woody” Williams delivers supplies to Türkiye

ByPettyOfficer2ndClass

ConnerBlake

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S Sixth Fleet

MERSIN Türkiye USS Hershel

“Woody Williams (ESB 4) arrived in Mersin, Türkiye, Feb. 28, to deliver disaster relief supplies to Turkish officials for those affectedbytheFeb.6earthquakes

TheroleofU.S.militaryforcesduringthis disaster relief mission is to rapidly respond tothenaturaldisasterwithcriticallyneeded capabilitiesandlife-savingequipment,delivering assistance to aid areas the government of Türkiye deems necessary Hershel

“Woody” Williams’ arrival to Mersin demonstrates a continued commitment to successfullycompletingthatmission

While operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, the Hershel “Woody” Williams’ crew took on over 100 pallets of supplies consisting of hygiene products clothes, blankets cots comfort kits and more. “To be able to execute this mission really rounds out the mission set the Navy has to offer,” said Lt Micah Gustafson, Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold military crew (milcrew)supplyofficer

After coordinating with Commander, TaskForce63(CTF-63),thecrewwastasked with organizing the pallets so the supplies could be expeditiously delivered to those inneed.

“Wesortedthroughandtookinventoryof the supplies so everything can be delivered as fast as possible to the areas and people whoneedtheaid,”saidPettyOfficer1stClass KyleSonSmith.“Thiscrewisworkinglong hours to execute this mission and we feel honoredtohavetheopportunitytohelpthe people of Türkiye. Everyone has showed a greatdealofunityduringthismissionandI amproudtobeapartofit.”

As the crew offloaded the supplies for the Turkish people Capt. Lenard Mitchell, Hershel “Woody Williams Gold milcrew commanding officer, said he is proud of the commitmenthisSailorshavedemonstrated whileembracingthismissionforthegreater good.

“Woody’s warriors always stand ready to answerthecalltoworkwithourAllies,”said

Mitchell.

Followinga7.8magnitudeearthquakethat struckTürkiyeonFeb.6,2023,U.S.military forcesassignedtoU.S.EuropeanCommand are providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in support of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the BureauofHumanitarianAssistance(BHA) andtheinternationalcommunitytoTurkish peopleduringthistragedy.

Hershel“Woody”Williamsisforward-deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF)areaofoperations,whileemployed by U.S. Sixth Fleet. The ship is capable of conductinghumanitariananddisasterrelief operations, as well as supporting a variety of rotary wing aircraft. Hershel “Woody” Williams’uniquecapabilitiesarepartofthe critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces and supplies to supportglobalmissions

TaskForce63isheadquarteredatNaples, Italy Composed of oilers, provision ships, and repair ships, its mission is the delivery of supplies at sea, and effecting repairs to other ships and equipment of the Fleet.

Commander, Task Force 63 (CTF-63) is the operational commander of all the U.S. 6th Fleetairandsealogistics

Task Force 6½, under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Sixth Fleet, is responding to the deadly 7.8 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that devastated Türkiye on Feb. 6. Hours after the earthquake, U.S. Marines and Sailors established a forward crisis response operations center at Incirlik Air Base Türkiye, in close coordinationwithU.S.interagencypartnersand Turkishofficials.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S NavalForcesAfrica(NAVEURNAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and Partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve securityandstability

HeadquarteredinNaples Italy NAVEURNAVAFoperatesU.S.navalforcesintheU.S. EuropeanCommand(USEUCOM)andU.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrumofjointandnavaloperations.

Ford sailors reflect on International Women of Color Day

ByMassCommunicationSpecialistSeaman

GraceLyles

USS Gerald R. Ford Public Affairs

NORFOLK Va Sailorsaboardthefirst-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) celebrate International Women of Color Day, March 1, 2023

“AboardFord,wewillbecelebratingInternational Women of Color Day in alignment with Women’s History Month,” said Chief Retail Services SpecialistAnaMarrerosuarez,programmanagerforFord’s Multicultural Heritage Committee “We will make posters videosandstoriesthatcelebratewomenin today’sNavyandtheaccomplishmentstheyprovide dailytothemission.”

InternationalWomenofColordayhasbeenrecognizedbytheNationalInstituteforWomenofColor since 1986 and acknowledges the achievements of thewomenofcolorwhohavepavedthewayinU.S. NavalhistoryandforFord’sSailorsservingtoday.

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command website, in 1942, Lt Susan Ahn Cuddy became the first Asian American woman to serve in the U.S. Navy as part of the Women Accepted for VolunteerEmergencyService(WAVES)program.

Althoughblackwomenwerepermittedtoservein theNavytemporarilyduringWorldWarI,theywere notofficiallyauthorizedtodosountil1944 Thefirst twoblackfemalenavalofficers,Lt j.g.HarrietPickens and Ensign Frances Wills, were commissioned onDecember26,1944

Chief Yeoman Edna Young was the first black AmericanwomantoenlistintheNavyinJuly1948 Thatyear Lt Cmdr.MariaEmilianaAquinobecame thefirstNativeAmericanwomantoserveasanofficerintheMedicalServiceCorps.

In 1978, Capt. Joan Bynum was the first black woman to be promoted to her rank of O-6. That same year, Brenda “Raven” Robinson became the first black female pilot and only the 42nd woman toearnWingsofGoldforcompletingnavalaviation training

In1993 Cmdr LynnChowbecamethefirstfemale Navy gunnery officer aboard a combatant ship In 2000, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Roseanne Oliveros became the first female Hispanic Seabee Diver In 2010,Capt.KathleneContreswasthehighest-ranking Hispanic American woman officer in the Navy untilsheretired.

By2014,AdmiralMichelleJ.Howardwaschosen as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations after having been the first black woman to command a ship Howard was also the first black woman to achieve ranksoftwoandthree-staradmiral.

These trailblazers of the past, as well as Ford’s strong Sailors, provide inspiring examples of resiliency and courage According to diversity.defense. gov, in 2016, more than 19,000 U.S. Navy Sailors were women of color. Today, Ford recognizes how farwomenofcolorintheNavyhavecomeandhow muchfurthertheywillgointhefuture

“Iamtheonlypersonwhohasthepowertodetermine my future and I am the only obstacle in my way, saidSeamanNacoletteCarr fromMiamisburg, Ohio,assignedtoFord’ssupplydepartment.“Ithink the Navy does very well with inclusion and I think just continuing to keep people informed of the past andhowfarwe’vecomehasaccomplishedsomuch.”

Fordisproudtohavewomenofcolorservingand assisting with daily operations to achieve mission readiness

“IthinkofmyselfasaSailor asanofficer notasa gender,”saidLt Cmdr WandaColon,Ford’sprincipal assistant supply officer “When I get a task I try todomybest,workhard,andthat’showIsurvive.”

FordistheU.S.Navy’snewestandmostadvanced aircraft carrier. As the first-in-class ship of Fordclass aircraft carriers, CVN 78 represents a generational leap in the U.S. Navy’s capacity to project power on a global scale Ford-class aircraft carriers introduce 23 new technologies including ElectromagneticAircraftLaunchSystem AdvancedArresting Gear and Advanced Weapons Elevators The newsystemsincorporatedontoFord-classshipsare designedtogenerateahighersortieratewitha20% smallercrewthanaNimitz-classcarrier,pavingthe wayforwardfornavalaviation.

For more information about the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit https://www.airlant.usff navy.mil/cvn78/ and follow along on Facebook: @ USSGeraldRFord,Instagram:@cvn78_grford,Twitter: @Warship_78 DVIDS www.dvids.net/CVN78 andLinkedInatUSSGeraldR.Ford(CVN78)

Agraphic highlightingvariouswomen assigned to the first-in-class aircraft carrierUSS Gerald R.Ford (CVN 78).(PHOTOBYSEAMANMANVIRGILL)

ByLt.j.g CarolineLeya

USS George Washington (CVN 73)

NEWPORT NEWS Va The NimitzclassaircraftcarrierUSSGeorgeWashington(CVN73)receivedtheFY-22Retention Excellence Best in Class award for U.S. Pacific Fleet, February 13

“Receiving Best in Class, on top the Retention Excellence Award, is distinct because it is the first time we competed within our type commander with new challenging requirements but GW has shown that nothing is too difficult for us and that we are resilient,” said George Washington’s Command Career Counselor, Chief Navy Counselor (SW/AW) Dalila Rodriguez.

The Best in Class award, was a new addition in 2022 and is given